Musings of a Well Read Man

Main menu

Post navigation

Will You Like the Cherry MX Red Keyswitch in a mechanical keyboard?

Which Mechanical Keyboard Switch should I get? – Cherry MX Red Switch

This article is about one type of keyswitch found on Mechanical Keyboards; the Cherry MX Red keyswitch, and why you may like to use this particular mechanical keyswitch for typing. Are you confused about Mechanical Keyboards? Why you would want to spend ten times as much on a Mechanical Keyboard as you would on a bog standard one?

First things first; what the hell is a Mechanical Keyboard you’re probably thinking? The reason why you would want a mechanical keyboard is because they provide the best typing experience you can get.

What is a Mechanical Keyboard?

Most likely your current keyboard is a cheap rubber dome type from Logitech or Microsoft or a low profile scissor switch type found in laptops. Both are simple, cheap, and easy to make. Most people are aware of nothing other than those two varieties and will likely never have encountered a mechanical keyboard.

However, if you know a keyboard enthusiast, or are a budding keyboard enthusiast (from which there is no turning back) and you care about the typing experience as you write, then it may have been bought to your attention that there is a third much more appealing type of keyboard lurking out there; the Mechanical Keyboard; where each key has its own dedicated manual keyswitch.

Mechanical Keyboards and Keyswitches – The Basics

The typing experience from a Mechanical Keyboard is dictated by the type of keyswitch it utilises. Most mechanical keyboard manufacturers release several versions of the same model each with a different type of keyswitch in order to provide the user with a choice of tactile typing experiences.

Different keyswitches provide variations in feel, fluidity (of finger depression), resistance, key cap profile (shape) and overall general typing experience. Don’t be overwhelmed by all these nuances, it is what makes some keyboards a dream to type on whilst leaving others feeling like you are struggling in sticky mud. Sticky mud is a reference to rubber dome or rubber membrane keyboards. Read on.

Some typists claim to have increased the accuracy and speed when typing on a mechanical keyboard, but that is a personal experience and probably more closely related to the usage than attributing it to the presence of high quality components.

Personal Impression

The authors first experience with mechanical keyboards was using a Filco Majestouch TenKeyless with Cherry MX Brown Keyswitches. Cherry MX Brown’s are classed as Tactile Non-Clicky (silent-ish)switch that has a tactile bump half way down the shaft that actuates or registers a key stroke when the keyswitch is depressed.

Cherry MX Red Keyswitches are classed as a Linear Non-Tactile Non-Clicky keyswitch with the actuation point absent of any tactile or audible actuation feedback during operation. This results in a very smooth action giving an almost silky or fluid typing experience.

The keys respond sharply and precisely with only slight effort required of the fingers. With only 45 grams of finger resistance Cherry MX Red Keyswitches have the leasred lineart resistance of all Cherry Corp keyswitches.

It took a week to get used to the silky smooth feel of Cherry MX Red’s however over zealous typing often results in bottoming out on the base plate of the keyboard resulting in a louder thud than usual. This is a noticeable noise but becomes less distracting as you adapt to Cherry Mx Reds.

The lack of tactile feedback resulted in the keyboard feeling a little unforgiving for want of a better word. It registered keystrokes cleanly and efficiently every time; whether you accuracy was perfect or abysmal. This will be a good thing for touch typists because the light resistance allows your fingers to seemingly flow across the keyboard as you type as the Cherry MX Red’s yield well to a light touch.

Typing Proficiency and Accuracy

The use of Cherry MX Red Keyswitches resulted in an initial deterioration in the authors typing accuracy; down from 97.5% accuracy by approximately 3-4%, last recorded at 94.5%. However this was an adaptation phase and as my hand and typing got use to the tangibly lighter feel, using the switch felt as if your fingers were gliding over the keys. Typing accuracy is at approximately 96.5%.

The lack of tactile feedback can also, apparently, result in a higher typographical error rate than with other switches which provide tactile (clicky) feedback upon key actuation (Cherry MX Brown and Cherry MX Blue keyswitch).

Many typist may not mind this because you will soon get used to the feel of the switch and learn to only depress the switch approximately 3mm of the full 4mm distance the shaft is capable of travelling. This may sound absurd but is quite common for typists to develop this level of familiarity and habit with a mechanical keyboard. This is the stage the author is just about at now; only depressing the switch enough to register a keystroke and not bottom out on the keyboards metal base plate.

YouTube Video: Typing with Cherry MX Red Keyswitches

This is a video of typing with an a mechanical Keyboard using Cherry MX Mechanical Keyswitches. The sound of the MX Red Keyswitch is fluid, with most of the noise present evident from the typist bottoming out on the baseplate of the keyboard. Proficient typists will not have this problem as they should adapt to the travel distance of the shaft in the barrel. Note the ping sound of the key returning to its original position.

Will You Like Cherry MX Red Keyswitches?

Will you like Cherry MX Red Keyswitches? In all honesty, I can’t tell you. Everyone’s’ preference and typing habits are different. Some people will find this keyswitch a dream to type on because it is so light and fluid whilst others will loath it for its lack of tactile feedback.

As a side note, my wife prefers this switch to the other types of keyswitches in use in the office; of which there are four: a Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless with Cherry MX Browns, another Filco Tenkeyless with Cherry MX Blues, and a Dell 104 key rubber membrane (dome) type keyboard.

So,in general, females do tend to prefer Cherry MX Red Keyswitches because they are light to the touch allowing your fingers to feel as if they are gliding over the keys. Males may prefer Cherry MX Browns or Cherry MX Blue’s because they are a little heavier to the touch and provide a satisfying acknowledgement that your key press has been received. MX Blues are the same as Browns, tactile, but MUCH noisier.

Cherry MX Reds do require some getting use to but provide a pleasant, even fun, typing experience with no fatigue noted during use. Most of the authors typing sessions were between 20 – 60 minutes between OH & S breaks and within those time frames finger exertion or fatigue were absent. The author use to suffer from mild RSI till abandoning the use of the mouse and focusing solely on keyboard shortcuts.

The aspects of mechanical keyswitches appraised in this article form the basis of a day to day typing experience. Typists adapt to the feel of a particular keyswitch and develop an affinity with the small nuances that differentiate one from another.

If you are a proficient typist with a high accuracy and speed then the lack of tactile feedback will be a minor, if not irrelevant concern. It will take a few days to a week to adapt to a new keyboard and how it responds to you personally, but over time I believe you will enjoy typing on Cherry MX Reds.

Durability

The advantages of a Mechanical Keyboard include more pleasurable typing experience, superior durability with many mechanical keyboards offering up to 50 million keystrokes, per key, before the typing experience is degraded. Cherry MX Keyswitches set this benchmark and are rated for a lifetime of 50 million keystrokes.

50 Million is a lot of keystrokes. It equates to a lifetime measured in decades. Most typists will only type a particular key up to 2 or 3 million times in a year. When compared to rubber dome switches which are rated at approximately 5 million keystrokes; scissor style keyswitches with approximately 8 – 10 million keystroke lifespan [ ] the durability and longevity of mechanical keyboards begins to justify the price premium.

Summary – Pro’s and Con’s

Pro’s

Smooth and light feel.

Reduced finger fatigue

No tactile bump at actuation point.

Quieter than than non-linear keyswitches

My speed up touch typing speed once adapted tactile feel

Some women prefer Cherry MX Red keyswitches

Con’s

Rarer (harder to find) than Cherry MX Browns, Blues, or Blacks

More expensive than other Cherry MX keyswitches due to lack of availability

Tendency for typist to bottom out on mounting plate of keyboard due to absence of tactile feedback.

Some typists my prefer more tactile feedback during typing.

Men may prefer to try a heavier keyswitch

Not suitable for gaming.

Technical NerdBox Details

The Cherry MX Red Switch is a linear type mechanical keyboard switch made by the German manufacturer Cherry Corp. It is distinguished by a Red Shaft as per its name, which travels 4mm down into the barrel of the switch; with actuation occurring precisely 2mm through the depression. Further information can be found here.

Actuation Force (measured in cN – CentiNewtons)

The actuation pressure of the Cherry MX Red Switch is 45cN, written as CentiNewtons, or cN, of downward force, and is equivalent to approximately 45 grams of resistance at the point of actuation, with resistance increasing marginally towards the bottom of the keystroke when the spring is under maximum compression. 45 grams (or 45cN CentiNewtons) is considered to be a light amount of force compared with other Cherry MX Keyswitches; and is in fact the least resistance of all Cherry MX Keyswitches.

Availability

The Cherry MX Red Switch was considered to be a Limited Edition switch because Cherry claimed to be no longer manufacturing them in 2010 according to Ducky a mechanical keyboard manufacturer. However Leopold,another mechanical keyboard manufacturer has recently released a line of keyboards with Cherry MX Red switches. So, it appears Cherry Corp have started manufacturer again some time in 2011.

The Filco Majestouch MX Red Limited Edition board was purchased because it was supposed to be Limited Edition. That appears to no longer be the case. There are now at least three manufactures offering mechanical keyboards with the Cherry MX Red Switch. Filco, Ducky, a Chinese based company, and Korean based Leopold (try Google Translate if you can’t read Korean.

So much for Limited Edition! It looks like keyboards with the Cherry MX Red Switch are now becoming more popular and for good reason. They provide a wonderful typing experience for proficient touch typists.

Attribution

Many thanks to Lethal Squirrel @ Geekhack who made the images. They are great images, although he doesn’t know they are being used on this website.

10 thoughts on “Will You Like the Cherry MX Red Keyswitch in a mechanical keyboard?”

“As a side note, my wife prefers this switch to the other types of keyswitches”

“So,in general, females do tend to prefer Cherry MX Red Keyswitches”

So you draw the conclusion, based on your wife’s preference vs. your own, that all females would prefer the red switches, and all men would not….

That is what I call a terrible review. Also you say that this switch is not for gaming… actually if you do some research Cherry MX Red are basically sought after SOLELY for gaming. You should probably check your facts before you just start saying things that are not true.

Actually most people don’t prefer Cherry MX Reds for gaming. The most popular gaming keyboards, the Razar and Corsair actually started out with Cherry MX Browns because they are silent and then Cherry MX Blues for some reason.

Corsair have only recently begun using Cherry MX Reds because for ages the MX Red was hard to come by.

I say women appear to prefer the Cherry MX Red because, a) My wife nicked mine and won’t use any other; b) my neighbour is a journalist and she sufferes from RSI and wanted to use a mechanical keyboard because she thought it would help … so I tried to flog her my Cherry MX Blue Filco and my Cherry MX Brown Filco but she want the MX Red my wife developed a liking for … and so instead of buying either the MX Blue or MX Brown at a bargin price a quarter of what they go for in the shops she opted to buy the same top price Filco Cherry MX Red this article is written about.

Actually the first comment was right, cherry mx red’s are used for gaming. Yes some people find them too light for gaming but for RTS particularly they are highly sought after. I start to doubt your knowledge when you said gamers prefer mx blacks cause of there high tactile feedback when in fac mx blacks don’t have any tactile feedback, in fact there basically like stiffer reds, which is why reds were developed to be a lighter version of the linear (non tactile non clicky) switches to contrast with the blacks. That being said the majestouch with reds is an excellent keyboard, I got a full size majestouch 2 of amazon and it’s excellent (especially for starcraft 2).

Some of the gamers I’ve spoken too prefer MX Blues whist others cant stand them cause the noise and bum p distract them from the game. I guess its all personal preference.

Case in point is that I went and bought an Filco Ninja MX Black keyboard just so I could try out the MX Blacks. For the first week I hated it. Went so far as to put it up for sale in a forum, then something happened.

I got use to it. Did the O-Ring mod and now its my main keyboard. My MX Blue board gets used for at most ten minutes a day, the MX Brown a little more so, but the MX Red board, liberated from me by my wife, is lost to the depths of her office never to be seen again. She refuses to part with it and brings it out if she has to use one of the other computers.

I enjoyed the review. I recently ordered a cherry red keyboard, so I’m looking forward to trying it. There seems to be some controversy about which cherry switch is best for gaming. From my own experience and online research it seems like gamers like all kinds of keyboards. It really depends on the type of game and personal preference. I would probably agree that most men tend to type heavier than women. Personally I tend to type quite heavy. I’m hoping using the cherry reds for a while will soften my touch a little. Similar to how my writing softened up when I switch to fountain pens.

Yeah. I have gotten quite use to using a Filco with Cherry MX Blacks. It is one of the heavier Cherry MX switches and suited my heavy typing style.

It really is preference when it comes to which switch is better for gaming or typing. I’ve read things on the net (and as per the above post) where people swear that they need clicky switches because the ‘click is essential’ to them being able to properly time the kill blah blah blah utter crap. And I’ve read and talked to avid gamers who didn’t give a shit in the slightest because they just bash the hell out of the key as fast as they can … blah blah blah. Yep, It’s personal preference.

I type a lot, like a lot. And so does my wife hence her taking possession of the Filco Cherry Red keyboard. I found that the tactile clicky feel didn’t suit me as much as a linear key. Although in saying that I do love my Cherry MX Browns; I just haven’t gotten it out to type on recently.

BUT … in saying all that, I have just gone and purchased a Noppoo Choc Tenkeyless with Cherry Reds. And, I’ll admit, I cant wait for it to get here. My wife won’t let me use what WAS my Filco Cherry Red, so I just went and bought another keyboard with Cherry MX Reds.

I do like the light linear feel of the Cherry MX Red. It’s like typing on silk, smooth and soft. I’m pretty sure it will speed my typing up. Since learning Colemak my typing speed has hovered around 70-80wpm. I was up to about 100 – 105 / 110 wpm when typing Qwerty but that was with about 15 years typing practice behind me. The light feel of the Cherry Red will basically render a heavy hand nil void and irrelevant so I am hoping, I refine my touch somewhat and focus on speed.